Man who abused toddler after taking drugs jailed, caned
A man who abused a two-year-old girl while under the influence of drugs was sentenced to 10 years and nine months’ jail along with eight strokes of the cane by the State Courts on Tuesday (8 May).
Suhaimi Juma’at, 46, had pleaded guilty last month to one count of ill-treating a child in a case that was described by the prosecution as “shocking”. He also pleaded guilty to four drug-related charges.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Marshall Lim had urged the court to jail Suhaimi a total of 10 years and nine months as well as to have him caned for the ill-treatment and drug charges.
Lim said Suhaimi was under the influence of drugs when he committed the offence, and that the child was defenceless and too young to articulate words of distress. He also pointed out to the court that the girl’s entire diaper was soaked in blood when the child arrived at the hospital.
District Judge Kessler Soh agreed with the prosecution and handed down the jail term the prosecution sought, including eight strokes of the cane.
The court heard that Suhaimi was released from prison in 2014 and was looking for accommodations. In November 2016, a cousin introduced him to J, a babysitter, who allowed him to stay at her home.
As a form of repayment, Suhaimi offered to assist her in her babysitting duties. At the time, J took care of two girls, including the two-year-old girl he eventually abused.
On 24 February 2017, Suhaimi left J’s home to buy cigarettes. He ran into an acquaintance who was a drug peddler. Suhaimi purchased a pack of contraband cigarettes and a straw of methamphetamine, also known as “ice”, from him. He then went to J’s home and consumed some of the “ice”.
The following day, Suhaimi discovered that the toddler had soiled herself and had defecated on the kitchen floor outside the toilet. Still recovering from the effects of having consumed drugs the day before, Suhaimi became agitated.
While washing up the child, the girl began playing with the water in the toilet, further annoying Suhaimi. He began using violent force to clean her private parts, causing severe injury to her in the process.
The child defecated again after he finished washing her and Suhaimi noticed blood in her stool. He then washed and showered her again.
A friend of the toddler’s family picked her up that evening and noticed blood in the child’s diaper. When she tried to wash the child’s private parts, the girl began to scream and cry in pain.
The child was brought to a clinic and was then referred to the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The child was still bleeding when she arrived at the hospital and a surgery was performed to repair her wounds.
A medical report indicated that the child suffered tears in her genital area.
Suhaimi, who has previous convictions for drug offences and assault, had said through his lawyer that he was terribly remorseful and repentant over his actions. His sentence will be backdated to 1 March 2017 when he was first remanded.
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